New owners plan rebirth of Eastport’s American Can building

One of the most endangered historic buildings in Maine – the American Can Company plant in Eastport – has new owners, and they promise a rebirth of the massive waterfront structure. The 28,800‑square‑foot, three‑story brick building at 15 Sea Street, which had been listed by Maine Preservation as an iconic but imperiled landmark, was sold in October for $100,000 to Mollie Bredehoft and Tammy Gourd of Windsor, Colo. The pair have established a corporation, American Can LLC, to manage the development.

For Bredehoft, the purchase allows her to return to her distant Eastport roots. Her great‑grandparents lived on Key Street in Eastport and her father, Fred Simpson, worked at age 10 in the American Can Company, pushing a cart into which workers would deposit their completed cans and documenting how many cans each worker had produced.

"His mother worked there for some time as well, and his father worked for the Border Patrol," Bredehoft says. "The family ties are what makes this so significant for me."

The purchase is also a dream come true for its former owners. Meg McGarvey, Linda Godfrey and Nancy Asante had worked tirelessly for years to try to rehabilitate the building. Their plans for a multi‑use facility that included both retail and housing were stymied time and time again by a lack of funding, loss of potential partners and dissolution of governmental programs that could have made the rehabilitation possible.

Every setback, however, made the three women even more determined to preserve the building. They imagined a refurbished structure serving as a focal point for downtown Eastport and refused to relinquish that idea.

"A lot of people don't know what we've been through to try to make this happen. It's been an incredibly difficult journey," McGarvey says. "It's really the last building connected to the sardine industry when it was at its height."

The structure had been purchased in 2005 by the three women, who also own and run The Commons art gallery and gift shop in downtown Eastport. But after years in which the three were frustrated in their plans to restore it, they finally put the building up for sale in 2023 for a little over $1 million.

Although disuse and the elements had taken their toll on the building, including on the 130 pilings that support it, the trio still refused to consider an owner who was interested only in a tear‑down, dreaming instead that someone would come along who shared their ideas.

Godfrey admits that the initial listing price might have been too high, "but anyone who's sold historic properties knows that you start with what you believe the property is worth at its best." Over months, however, the price was steadily reduced. The women remained determined.

"Our intent was always to save it, to save it for the future, to improve upon it, to make it important to the community," Godfrey says. "Almost as valuable as this building is the story that goes along with it."

That story began in 1908 when the Seacoast Canning Company erected the building, using 20‑inch‑thick brick walls and rough‑cut granite windowsills. Later renamed the American Can Company, it was the place where the roll‑key can‑opening system was developed specifically for sardine cans.

After the sardine industry's demise made the can company obsolete, the building was used as a warehouse and also by sea urchin and salmon farming companies. Over time, however, much of it has deteriorated, according to Maine Preservation, which says the building is one of the last remaining structures of its kind in the world.

Then, nine years ago, fate interceded when Bredehoft traveled from Colorado to Eastport to explore her family's roots. "I had heard stories of the can company growing up. When we saw the building, I fell in love." Although it wasn't for sale at the time, Bredehoft kept up with developments in Eastport. When she saw that it had been put up for sale two years ago, she started researching possibilities more thoroughly.

That was a natural for Bredehoft, who has a background in both architecture and landscape architecture. She holds a master's degree in historic preservation and has worked with clients for two decades to design and manage development projects for communities.

"This seemed like such a good fit," she says. "So I just started a deep dive to find out more about the building and the community."

Her dream of purchasing the property jelled a year ago when she met Gourd, a long‑time Colorado realtor who specializes in bringing together people to create community‑driven projects. Gourd is also the co‑founder of Print Built, which offers a new approach to affordable housing throughout 3D concrete building.

The pair put in a bid then found there were six offers for the can company. "But we won!" Bredehoft says excitedly. "We are very, very excited."

One of the reasons the Colorado pair was selected was their determination to restore the building  not tear it down. The three original women owners have already sent their original development plan to the new owners, who've reacted favorably to many of the ideas.

"At this point I'm thinking the redevelopment will be mixed use, but we're trying to be really selective as far as what we put out there," Gourd says. "First, we have to prioritize how to save the building."

In a prospective timeline compiled by Gourd and Bredehoft, 2026 would be used to stabilize the building, repair the exterior, then work with local stakeholders and community members to sketch out future plans. Bredehoft says they've already begun compiling a list of people who might be called on locally to help and would like to add more names to the list.

"We're very approachable," Bredehoft says. "We may be outsiders, but we take the community and its future to hearts. We need to hear and feel what's best for Eastport." The pair says they'd like to travel to Eastport to meet with residents in a quest to "build our mastermind team."

The timeline shows that the following years would be used to finalize a plan for the building then complete restoration and repair, with continuing input from the community.

In a letter, the duo says they're focused on "maintaining and showcasing [the building's] historic character while introducing modern functionality. Planned uses for the building will be introduced gradually, as each section is developed." They also stressed they are interested in exploring renewable energy technologies such as solar and hydro to reduce environmental impact.

Potential uses could include residential spaces, a commercial market‑type section, short‑term rental units such as a boutique hotel and spaces for community gatherings. The pair isn't certain yet what will be included, but they plan to rely heavily on community input. They hope the building renovation will be completed in 2029. "We will definitely be keeping the community up to date as we make plans," Bredehoft says. "Community outreach is going to be a big part of our project."

The three former owners are thrilled. "It's wonderful that they want to continue on the same path that we were treading," McGarvey says. "What I'm hoping is that it becomes a place where people can come to learn, to have fun and that it will grow as a real anchor for the community."